Evaluation of Level of Knowledge among Healthcare Workers in Ebonyi State Regarding MPOX Infection, Including Its Prevention and Control Measures

Background: Monkeypox (MPOX) is a zoonotic viral infection from the Poxviridae family that is endemic to West Africa. In recent times, outbreaks have also been reported in countries outside the African continent. This study aimed to evaluate the level of knowledge among healthcare workers in Ebonyi State regarding MPOX infection, including its prevention and control measures. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted among healthcare workers in Ebonyi State, located in southeastern Nigeria. Data on MPOX infection were collected using a self-administered questionnaire completed by the participants. Result: A total of 251 healthcare workers participated in the study. There were more male participants (56.6%) than females, and doctors constituted the majority of respondents. Overall, the level of knowledge regarding MPOX and its control measures was low (58.7%). Only a small proportion of participants (30.7%) were aware that MPOX could be transmitted through sexual contact. More concerning was the poor knowledge of MPOX infection prevention and control measures, reported by only 11.2% of respondents. However, the majority of healthcare workers (91.2%) demonstrated adequate knowledge of the causative agent and clinical features (74.1%) of MPOX infection. Conclusion: The findings of poor knowledge in this study underscore the urgent need for retraining and awareness campaigns on MPOX and infection prevention and control (IPC) measures among healthcare workers in Ebonyi State.